Julie Sawchuk talks to Huron County council about accessibility

by Bob Montgomery

Julie Sawchuk became an expert on accessibility issues when she was hit be a car while training for a triathlon on her bike in 2015.

Since then she's been a very vocal voice for people with disabilities and how some very simple adjustments can make their lives easier. Sawchuk says in most cases people are quite willing to make the changes when they realize the impact those changes have on the lives of people with disabilities. Sawchuk also points out washrooms are the most critical spaces in homes and in public buildings.

Sawchuk says in many cases people aren't even aware of the problem because they don't have a disability issue, so they're not aware of what people with a disability have to deal with. She also says people who are willing to make changes are reluctant to go ahead with them because they're afraid they might not get it right. Sawchuk says that's why they should get someone with a disability involved in making the changes and once they've made some changes, for instance in stores in the downtown area, they have to let people know those changes have been made. And she says the town of Clinton recently made significant changes to their downtown stores.

Sawchuk has also earned the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification which is the only way in Canada to become a certified accessibility professional.

More information can be found on her web site at https://www.juliesawchuk.ca/